REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF CLINICAL SECTION OF AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION a committee representing the Clinical Section of the Psychological Association was appointed for the purpose of undertaking a survey of the training and duties of clinical psychologists in the United States. In proceeding with this survey the committee prepared a questionnaire which was sent out to about one thousand psychologists who were engaged in psychological work of a clinical nature. The returns from this questionnaire were presented in a report made at the meeting of the American Psychological Association held in Ithaca in September, 1932, and a brief summary of the survey was published in the Psychological Exchange in August, 1933. The report contained no suggestions or recommendations, but in summary
In 1931
American
the survey indicated: 1. That there are about
eight hundred psychologists engaged in psychological they themselves would define as clinical. was doubt in the minds of a few psychologists about the use term "clinical" as applied to psychology. According to these
work which 2. That there of the
the term "clinical" was borrowed from another field and did not describe the nature of the work. 3. That there was no uniform understanding or agreement as to the meaning of the term "clinical"
indicate 4. That there
a
psychology.
The term was used
field of work; by others to indicate
a
method of
by some to approach. of experience
no common standard either of training or generally recognized for clinical psychologists. That there was no agreement in regard to the types of problems or cases Some were of the opinion that a clinical psychologist should study. clinical psychologists should confine themselves to the study of those traits which could be objectively determined and defined. Others believed that a clinical psychologist should be qualified to diagnose and treat any behavior disorder of a psychological nature. was
which was
5.
The discussion of this report led to a realization of the need for further clarification of the terms "clinical psychology" and "clinical psychologist," of the need for definite standards of training for clinical
concerning
psychologists,
and of the need for definite
the number and location of
psychological
2
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEBlCINf BETHESDA J4, MO. '
-
knowledge
clinics in the
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF CLINICAL SECTION
3
States, as well as facts concerning their organization, staffs, clientele, methods of procedure, and training offered in clinical practice.
United
The committee
was
continued and authorized to formulate
report clarifying the meaning and
a
scope of the terms "clinical
psychology" and "clinical psychologist" and suggesting standards training for the personnel in the field, and also to collect the material for and to prepare a Guide Book to Psychological Clinics of
in the United States. The result of the committee's work is here reported. That portion of it concerned with definitions of the terms "clinical psychology" and "clinical psychologist" and standards of training in the field is
study
of
presented in Part I, and that part of it constituting a existing psychological clinics, in Part II of this report.
In 1931
American
the survey indicated: 1. That there are about
eight hundred psychologists engaged in psychological they themselves would define as clinical. was doubt in the minds of a few psychologists about the use term "clinical" as applied to psychology. According to these
work which 2. That there of the
the term "clinical" was borrowed from another field and did not describe the nature of the work. 3. That there was no uniform understanding or agreement as to the meaning of the term "clinical"
indicate 4. That there
a
psychology.
The term was used
field of work; by others to indicate
a
method of
by some to approach. of experience
no common standard either of training or generally recognized for clinical psychologists. That there was no agreement in regard to the types of problems or cases Some were of the opinion that a clinical psychologist should study. clinical psychologists should confine themselves to the study of those traits which could be objectively determined and defined. Others believed that a clinical psychologist should be qualified to diagnose and treat any behavior disorder of a psychological nature. was
which was
5.
The discussion of this report led to a realization of the need for further clarification of the terms "clinical psychology" and "clinical psychologist," of the need for definite standards of training for clinical
concerning
psychologists,
and of the need for definite
the number and location of
psychological
2
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEBlCINf BETHESDA J4, MO. '
-
knowledge
clinics in the
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF CLINICAL SECTION
3
States, as well as facts concerning their organization, staffs, clientele, methods of procedure, and training offered in clinical practice.
United
The committee
was
continued and authorized to formulate
report clarifying the meaning and
a
scope of the terms "clinical
psychology" and "clinical psychologist" and suggesting standards training for the personnel in the field, and also to collect the material for and to prepare a Guide Book to Psychological Clinics of
in the United States. The result of the committee's work is here reported. That portion of it concerned with definitions of the terms "clinical psychology" and "clinical psychologist" and standards of training in the field is
study
of
presented in Part I, and that part of it constituting a existing psychological clinics, in Part II of this report.
